Children and young people who develop harmful sexual behaviour
harm themselves and others.

Signs and symptoms

How to tell whether behaviour is normal for their age

Children develop and mature at different rates. So what’s
worrying for a younger child, might be normal behaviour for an
older child. If a child looks or acts a lot older or younger than
their age, this could be a cause for concern.

However, if a child develops more slowly than others of a
similar age and there’s not a cause such as physical or learning
disabilities, it could be a sign they’re being abused.

If you are worried about a child?

What to do if you suspect abuse - a guide to keeping children
safe

NSPCC - 'Don't wait until you're certain'

The NSPCC launched their'Don't wait until you're certain'
campaign on 14 january 2013 to encourage members of the public not
to wait before taking action if they have concerns about the safety
or protection of a child.

The NSPCC are keen to change with the fact that almost half of
those contacting the NSPCC with serious concerns are still waiting
over a month before getting in touch. This can leave individual and
other children at risk and delay the deployment of interventions
that provide protection and support. For a young child a month can
feel like a lifetime. In 2011 almost 45,000 people across the UK
contacted the NSPCC worried about a child.

An NSPCC campaign which provides straightforward advice to
parents on how to keep their 8-12-year-olds safe on social
networks. Resources include: a YouTube video; a parents' guide to
social networks; tips for talking to your child about online
safety; and a Be ShareAware guide.

News

May 2017 newsletter

Ofsted Inspection

The Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board (BBSCB) is
judged to be 'Good' in a report published today by Ofsted.
For more details of the report and a statement by Jenny Myers,
Independent Chair of BBSCB can be found here